What does "mullah" mean?
An honorific title for a scholar of theology and sharia law.
Mullah
/ˈmʊ.lə/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An honorific title for a scholar of theology and sharia law.
- Grammar: mullah is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abecedarian, cleric, dervish, doctor.
- Useful contrasts: layperson, secularist.
- Usage evidence: The Taliban's Afghanistan will be the Sunni version of the Iranian mullah regime without oil.
How to use "mullah"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mullah" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mullah" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mullah" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mullah" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mullah" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abecedarian" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mullah", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An honorific title for a scholar of theology and sharia law.
"Leading Republicans do not sympathize with the mullahs, do not repeat their talking points, and do not seek to appease them when they make outrageous claims about other countries."
- 2 a Muslim trained in the doctrine and law of Islam; the head of a mosque wordnet
- 3 An honorific title for a mosque leader.
- 4 A scholar and teacher of theology and sharia law, and an issuer of fatwas.
"In the first week of March 2018, the Shia mullah issues a fatwa prohibiting vengeance killing and requiring reconciliation."
- 5 A conservative Muslim leader or cleric, especially one who is hostile against other religions. India, slang, slur
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A Muslim. India, broadly, slang, slur
- 7 A low-level cleric who specializes in telling stories of Ashura, rather than teaching or issuing fatwas. Iran, dated
- 8 A low-level cleric who specializes in telling stories of Ashura, rather than teaching or issuing fatwas. See also: ruhani; See also: ruhani Iran, dated
Verb
- 1 Alternative form of muller (“to beat, thrash”). UK, alt-of, alternative, slang, transitive
"But I mullahed him. He may have been four inches taller but I punched him through the ropes and knocked the granny and the grandad out of him."
Antonyms
Example
"The Taliban's Afghanistan will be the Sunni version of the Iranian mullah regime without oil."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mullah"?
Common synonyms include: abecedarian, cleric, dervish, doctor, don, educator.
How do you use "mullah" in a sentence?
The Taliban's Afghanistan will be the Sunni version of the Iranian mullah regime without oil.
How do you pronounce "mullah"?
Pronounced /ˈmʊ.lə/.
Etymology
Derived from Classical Persian مُلَّا (mullā), from Arabic مَوْلًى (mawlan, “vicar, guardian”).